Press release of 29.04.2008
The huge sail will soon be installed in the Swiss pavilion at the World’s Fair ‘Expo Zaragoza 2008′. It will be open to visitors as from 14 June. The fair’s theme is ‘Water and Sustainable Development’. In it pavilion ‘Under the Lake’, Switzerland will present itself as a leading place for research and knowledge in the area of water management and sustainability.

‘Under the Lake’ features a sail constantly sprinkled with water which, taking up most of the room, acts as a projection surface for filmed images. Through the unconventional way in which it is hung, the sail forms the three-dimensional image of a lake floor, which visitors at first view from underneath. They look through the water at the living worlds below and above the water’s surface. The mood changes from pleasantly interesting to exciting to disturbing and even threatening and then back again. A person moves around in the water, whose body and skin react differently according to the water’s characteristics, thereby contributing to the changes of mood. Visitors are consequently made aware of differing water qualities and characteristics. As well as providing a projection surface, the sail acts as a catchment basin for an energy-efficient cooling system that is fed by water, thus showing a sustainable use to which water can be put.
Having been sensitized to water’s characteristics and possibilities through the sail installation, visitors move on to the second part of the exhibition where they encounter an typical Swiss waterscape on which they can exert an interactive influence. In this second part, Switzerland presents itself as Europe’s reservoir and provides information about the steps taken in cooperation with international partners to protect its lakes and rivers.
iart is responsible for the exhibition’s content, design and technical realization. The Swiss artist Max Philipp Schmid created the video for the sail installation.

Pressespiegel